SatechiMac mini Hub & Stand with SSD Enclosure for NVME/SATA M.2, Mac mini Dock with USB C 10Gbps, 3 USB A 5/10Gbps, 2.0 Audio Jack, for Mac Studio, Mac mini M2/M1 (Not Compatible with M4) - Silver

I was surprised how well this works. The SSD slot was very accessible and easy to install with the included set screw and screwdriver to secure it. Perfect addition to my Mac Studio that quickly ran out of space. SSD transfer speeds have been very fast, and the added USB ports were needed for some older music equipment I have.

I have Three of these units now, two with 4TB drives and one with a 2TB. They work great and still allow the Mac Studio to breathe. I’ve had zero heat issues. And the drive works super fast. If they come out with a Thunderbolt 5 version I will get it right away.

As I was looking to upgrade from my iMac to one of the relatively new Mac Mini M2 Pro desktops, a few of the reviews and site reports mentioned the SATECHI Type-C Stand & Hub as a great addition to an already good machine. This certainly has proven a extremely positive purchase for my needs as the front ports provide super easy access for SD card downloads (from my photography) as well as upload/download of USB drives. Additionally, the on-board ability of additional SSD storage (I purchased one of the Western Digital 1TB WD Blue SA510 SATA Internal Solid State Drive SSD - SATA III) serves to expand my storage options without cluttering up my desk with additional drives. Finally, as a result of an error on my part, I needed to contact Satechi customer support for help via e-mail. They were incredibly quick to respond and were able to correct my mistake and get the unit working with minimal delay. So, through the combination of an affordable addition with some very positive features, minimal additional footprint on my already messy desk and great customer service...this purchase is one of my favs and I would certainly recommend this accessory for folks looking to expand the functionality of their Mac Mini.

Couple things to point out right off:>> set up your Mini first, then connect the dock. I put in the NvME and the 2 USB cables for the Magic mouse and keyboard and connected it to the mini before turning the Mini on the first time. Big mistake. Didn't immediately recognise the mouse and keyboard, had to plug in non-Apple ones to get through set-up. After that the Magic devices paired auccessfully but the NvME was recognized, had to use Finder (after much googling) to find it. I ended up doing a clean re-install the next day and, then, everything "just worked", perfectly.>> about that NvME, while they include a cheap and nasty little screwdriver THEY DID NOT INCLUDE A RETENTION SCREW!!!! I had to hunt through motherboard boxes (I built 4 PCs last year) to find a screw but it turned the standard M.2 screw didn't fit, it was way too small. So I had to dig through PC case cartons to find more screws, turns out it the same size screw used to mount a m/b to the stand-offs in the case. I took off 1 star just for that. I was sorely tempted to take 2 off but the dock is otherwise very nice.As far as form and function go, it seems to work fine and looks good doing it. I matches the Mini perfectly and provides easy front access to the ports. One slightly off thing is the power LED is green, while the Mini's is yellow, also it's a couple mm off set from the Mini's - would;ve been nicer if they were aligned but that's just my OCD. I haven't tried any spped tests on the NvME but I know from various youtube reviews that it's not going to be anywhere the rated spped but that just down to it being an external drive connected over USB rather than on-board, so not really on Satechi.Except for the screw issue, I'm very pleased with the dock. Unit seems quite well-made and the price is very reasonable. Can heartily recommend.

I use this docking station with a Mac Mini M2 and installed Western Digital 4TB WD Blue SN5000 NVMe Internal Solid State Drive I have had zero issues and %100 use when I need the various ports, card readers and external drive.

March 2024 Satechi Technical Support emailed me:Following an extensive testing phase, we have identified batch-related issues in the PCBA assembly process at the manufacturing facility. At present, we are actively investigating the extent to which units from the affected batch may have been impacted. Regrettably, we are unable to offer replacements as a resolution at this time due to the ongoing investigation.As a interim measure, we are providing an option for returns with a refund as the sole troubleshooting avenue for addressing this issue. If the product was purchased on www.satechi.net, we can assist you with the return process. For products purchased on our Amazon Storefront, we recommend reaching out to their customer support for product returns.We deeply apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding as we work diligently to address and resolve the matter.Feb 2024 Update.Took me a little time to notice this but the hub greatly reduces the wifi reception to the Mac. After some experimentation simply placing the Mac on top does not seem to change much but once you plug in the hub the wifi is reduced by between 50 and 90% - it seems to vary for some reason. If you have a super fast wifi you may not immediately notice any difference but run a speed checker and the results are clear. I only noticed once the wifi slowed to a crawl i.e. the speed becomes variable for no obvious reason. Shame as the rest of it is great. Take the YouTube "reviews" with a pinch of salt!Bought to pair with my M2 Pro Mac Mini.Very easy to setup.The USB C lines up perfectly with the USB C on my Mac. Plugged it in and it worked.The NVME took less than a minute although I used my own screwdriver - great they include the right screw but I found the screwdriver fiddly in the space as it is not magnetic.I bought the WD Black SN850X 1TB to use and it is listed on Satechi's website as compatible. My error, I bought the one with built in heat sinc and it is slightly too big to fit the back plate back on! Anyhow I am running it without the cover and will see what happens.Speed wise it is good. The NVME is running at write speeds ~770MB/s and read speeds 725MB/s. The faster USB slots (Samsung USB 3.1) run at around 65 MB/s write and 200 MB/s read. The slower write around 25MB/s and read around 35MB/s.No obvious affect on the wifi.Looks good and matches the mac mini perfectly.